Born on January 22, 1959 in St. Louis, Missouri, Linda Blair is an Academy Award-nominated and Golden Globe-winning American actress. By the time she was 12, she has appeared in more than 75 commercials. She began acting and modeling at a young age, but originally planned to become a veterinarian. She only accepted her famous role in The Exorcist because it would allow her to pursue horsemanship.
Linda Blair had minor roles on television before being cast as the possessed girl Regan in 1973’s The Exorcist. The director, William Friedkin, wanted to cast an unknown actress in the film, and Blair’s credible and strong performance became an integral part in the film’s success. It was nominated for ten Academy Awards, and Blair received an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress. She also won a Golden Globe and a People’s Choice Award. Her performance in The Exorcist led her to be cast in other controversial television films like Born Innocent in 1974 and Sarah T. – Portrait of a Teenage Alcoholic in 1975. She was also given the role of Janice Abbott in Airport 1975. The failed Exorcist sequel, Exorcist II: The Heretic, won her a Saturn Award Best Actress nomination. Her career deteriorated after her 1977 arrest for drug possession, and she only appeared in minor films during the 1980s. She then returned to horsemanship, and competed in various events.
In 1990, Blair spoofed her The Exorcist character in the comedy Repossessed, as well as appearing on other low-budget films. She also had a guest appearance on the 1992 opening episode of the FOX series Married…with Children. Blair was cast in Prey of the Jaguar and performed in the 1997 stage revival of Grease. She was cast in several television series during the 2000s, including L.A. 7, as well as appearing on Supernatural in 2006. Linda Blair also became the host of the Fox Family Network’s series Scariest Places on Earth.